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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wound · jam · bulb · mark · cap · temple · tube · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. plane — a tool
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. mark — a grade
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bulb — for light
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. tube — a container
  11. tube — the underground
  12. cap — of ice
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. cap — a lid
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. cap — a hat
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. mark — a trace
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. wound — an injury
  24. mark — to pay attention

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com